Mumbai got a step closer to getting an open and accessible eastern waterfront. The Centre-appointed body has submitted its report to the shipping ministry on how the land can be used.

Mumbai got a step closer to getting an open and accessible eastern waterfront. The Centre-appointed body has submitted its report to the shipping ministry on how the land can be used.

The Mumbai Port Land Development Committee (MPLDC) was appointed to look into ways of transforming the port land.

HT has consistently reported on the freeing-up of the port land. On July 17, it began a series on how the liberated land across the eastern waterfront gives the city a chance to reinvent itself.

The report, which was ready two weeks ago, was submitted to Union minister Nitin Gadkari on January 6. Gadkari wanted to receive the report at a public event, but the committee sent the report to him as they were unable to find matching dates with the minister.

Last month, HT reported exclusive details from this report, including a recommendation that at least 1,000 of the 1,860 acres of the port trust be opened up for the city’s development.

MPLDC also recommended the area be developed as a green lung and made into a transportation hub. The committee suggested a formula to achieve this: 40% of the land can be used for transportation and 30% for green, open spaces.

The committee’s other suggestions include setting up of an autonomous authority – the Mumbai Port land Development Authority (MPLDA) – that will be financially and administratively empowered to overhaul port land, and to curtail port operations to make more land available for the city’s use.

Sources close to the committee said the ministry will take a final call on the report. “The ministry has so far responded well to the report and seems keen on taking it up.”

While there has been no official response from the ministry yet, it had earlier directed the Mumbai Port Trust to act against errant leaseholders – 36% of the port land is occupied by private leaseholders whose leases have expired or are in violation.